Stackable syringe package

ABSTRACT

A package adapted to contain a syringe and filter bottle on an apertured card with the use of shrink film, having protective restraining flaps at each end and at strategic points along the length of the syringe and bottle which extend outwardly from the card an equal distance and allow successive packages to be stacked thereon.

[ Dec. 23, 1975 United States Patent Zdarsky et al.

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9,048 4/l9l2 United Kingdom................. 206/476 Primary Exdminerwilliam Price Assistant Examiner-Steven E. Lipman Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Jerry F. Best ABSTRACT A package adapted to contain a syringe and filter bot- [73] Assignee: Hoerner Waldorf Corporation, St.

Paul, Minn.

[22] Filed: Nov. 1, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 519,809

[52] US. Cl. 206/4531; 206/229; 206/365; 206/462; 206/482; 206/486; 206/489; 206/497 51 Int. (1 B651) 65/02; B65D 71/00;

B65D 73/00 [58] Field of 206/4514, 45.31, 45.34, tle on an apertured card with the use of shrink film, 206/229, 364, 370, 461-462, 466, 47], having protective restraining flaps at each end and at 475-476, 482, 486, 489, 491, 497, 503; strategic points along the length of the syringe and 229/DIG. 12 bottle which extend outwardly from the card an equal 2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures distance and allow successive packages to be stacked thereon.

[56] References Cited V UNITED STATES PATENTS US. Patent Dec. 23, 1975 STACKABLE SYRINGE PACKAGE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention relates to packages made from foldable paperboard incorporating a shrinkable plastic film to cover an object placed in a normally scraped region and in which portions of the normally scraped region are used in a functional manner.

2. Description of the Prior Art The medical and pharmaceutical industries are coming to rely more and more upon disposable predosage syringes which must, by necessity, be packaged economically, in large volumes, and packaged in such a manner that they may be easily shipped and stored prior to useage with a minimum of trouble. One way of packaging these items is to place a syringe, sometimes with a disposable needle, along with a filler bottle containing the medicine to be dispensed therefrom. This type of packaging is particularly useful for applications in the field. Since syringes are sometimes made with glass barrels, and since the needle portion of the syringe is susceptible to damage, it is desireable to have a package which protects these areas, incorporates the use of clear plastic films so that the contents may be readily seen, and also one which may be easily stored and stacked in bulk.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A unique and novel design for an apertured card with an aperture appropriate for the shape of a combined syringe and filler bottle placed end-to-end, incorporating the use of a shrink film attached to the back side of the card for holding the syringe and filler bottle in place, and a back panel to cover the aperture and shrink film of the front card. The card has at least one restraining flap extending into the aperture and may be folded up along the side of the syringe, the bottle, or the needle area to provide protection for those areas. End restraining flaps may also be provided in combination with the side flap. The flaps may be formed to extend beyond the height of the syringe and bottle to create a three or more point support for additional cards which then may be stacked on top of the package.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of a package containing a syringe and filler bottle and incorporating the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a blank adapted to be folded into the package shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the blank shown in FIG. 2, showing the reverse side thereof and illustrating the application of thermo-plastic film;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of two packages such as those shown in FIG. I illustrating the stackable feature of the package.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The package shown in the figures generally as is adapted for use in holding a syringe shown as which has an extending plunger 16 which has at one end thereof, a flat, round disc I7 against which the thumb pushes to activate the syringe. Also at the top of the barrel 15 is a finger ledge 18 which is also used in activating the syringe. In the particular package shown, a filler bottle 20 is placed end-to-end with the syringe I5 and the area in which the needle is located, shown generally as 22, may be protected by a plastic sheath which provides asceptic conditions for the needle. Since there is considerable mass on either end of the needle, the combined syringe l5 and bottle 20 must be maintained in a relatively rigid position so that the small end of the syringe I5 and the needle is not damaged.

As can be seen in FIG. 1 as well as FIGS. 2 and 3, the package 10 includes a front panel 30 which is substantially rectangular in shape and which has formed therein by die cutting an aperture 35 which extends lengthwise along the front panel 30 and is generally the length and width necessary to accommodate the syringe and bottle 15 and 20. The ends of the aperture 35 are defined by fold lines 38 and 39 which are used to connect end restraining tabs 40 and 41. These end restraining flaps are folded upwardly to a position normal to the plane of the first panel 30 and serve to protect and locate the syringe l5 and bottle 20 in the package. As can be seen in FIG. 4 they are formed in height a distance greater than the maximum dimension of the syringe 15 or bottle 20 above the front panel 30.

Along the sides of the aperture 35 are indented areas 35a and 35b which terminate in hinge lines 50 and 51. The exact size and configuration of the aperture 35 is variable, but in the embodiment shown the extended areas 35a and 35b serve as a base from which extend the side restraining flaps 55 and 56. As can be seen in the drawings, the extended sections 350 and 35b locate the base of the side restraining flaps 55 and 56 close to the sides of the syringe l5 and the needle area 22 so that maximum protection is obtained. In the particular embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, it can be seen if care is taken in designing the blank for the package I0, then the amount of material which is removed after die cutting can be kept to a minimum by forming the side restraining flaps 55 and 56 so that they are in height a distance equal to the width of the aperture 35 less the extended area 35a or 35b. FIG. I shows how the side restraining flaps 55 and 56 are folded outwardly from the plane of the first panel 30 at substantially right angles thereto and the particular embodiment shown the side restraining flap 55 lies directly adjacent to the finger hold 18 and the syringe IS.

The side and end restraining flaps S5, 56, 40, and 41 are all folded outwardly from the plane of the first panel 30, and as can be seen in FIG. 4 they are formed so that they all project an equal distance from the plane of the card 30, thereby creating a series of support points on which a similar package may be stacked as shown in FIG. 4 where two such packages are positioned one on the other.

As can be seen in FIG. I and FIG. 3, there is a film of thermo-plastic material 60 positioned over the back side of the first panel 30 and formed in size sufficient to cover the entire aperture. The package is formed by placing the first panel 30 face down on a vacuum mold or other pocket forming apparatus which expands the film 60 to create a pocket large enough to accommodate the combination syringe I5 and fill bottle 20. A second panel 65 is then placed and sealed to the back side of the first panel 30 so that the syringe I5 and fill bottle 20 cannot fall out. The package is then processed through a means for heat shrinking the film about the syringe and bottle which brings the film 60 into close contact with all the parts of the package which are exposed The outwardly foldable restraining flaps 40. 4!, 55 and 56 typically move outwardly when the film 60 is formed into a pocket prior to loading the syringe and bottle. The back panel or second panel 65 may be a second sheet of paperboard or it may be hingedly attached as shown along the hinge line 66 in which case it is merely folded into position after the pocket is formed in the film 60 and the articles are loaded into the aperture.

In accordance with the Patent Statutes, l have described the principles of construction and operation of my improvement in STACKABLE SYRINGE PACK- AGE; and while 1 have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

We claim:

1. A paperboard blank for a card package holding a combined syringe having a finger ledge and filler bottle, said syringe arranged with the needle end in contact with said bottle, said blank comprising:

a first panel made of foldable paperboard;

said first panel having an elongated die cut aperture formed therein, said aperture being formed in length substantially equal to said syringe and filler bottle;

said aperture in said first panel being formed in width at its ends suffieient to allow said bottle and said finger ledge on said syringe to pass therethrough;

a first side restraining flap positioned in said aperture and connected along a first fold line parallel to the lateral edges of said aperture, said first fold line defining one edge of a first extended area of said first panel protruding into said aperture, said finger ledge adapted to be positioned adjacent one end of said first flap;

a second side restraining flap positioned in said aperture spaced longitudinally from said first flap and connected along a second fold line parallel to said first fold line said second fold line defining one edge of a second extended area of said first panel protruding into said aperture along the lateral side opposite said first extended area;

said first and second parallel fold lines spaced apart a distance equal to the diameter of said syringe;

a plastic film covering said aperture and attached to said first panel; and

a second panel hingedly connected to one edge of said first panel substantially equal in size to said first panel.

2. A protective card package holding a combined syringe having a finger ledge and filler bottle, said syringe arranged with the needle end in contact with said bottle, said package comprising:

a first panel made of foldable paperboard;

said first panel having an elongated die cut aperture formed therein, said aperture being formed in length substantially equal to said syringe and filler bottle;

said aperture in said first panel being formed in width at its ends sufficient to allow said bottle and said finger ledge on said syringe to pass therethrough;

a first side restraining flap positioned in said aperture and connected along a first fold line parallel to the lateral edges of said aperture, said first fold line defining one edge of a first extended area of said first panel protruding into said aperture, said finger ledge being positioned adjacent one end of said first flap;

a second side restraining flap positioned in said aperture spaced longitudinally from said first flap and connected along a second fold line parallel to said first fold line, said second fold line defining one edge of a second extended area of said first panel protruding into said aperture along the lateral side opposite said first extended area;

said restraining flaps being folded outwardly from said first panel, panel with said syringe being positioned therebetween;

a plastic film covering said syringe and bottle and extending through said aperture and being attached to the back side of said first panel; and

a second panel hingedly connected to one edge of said first panel and covering the back of said first 

1. A paperboard blank for a card package holding a combined syringe having a finger ledge and filler bottle, said syringe arranged with the needle end in contact with said bottle, said blank comprising: a first panel made of foldable paperboard; said first panel having an elongated die cut aperture formed therein, said aperture being formed in length substantially equal to said syringe and filler bottle; said aperture in said first panel being formed in width at its ends sufficient to allow said bottle and said finger ledge on said syringe to pass therethrough; a first side restraining flap positioned in said aperture and connected along a first fold line parallel to the lateral edges of said aperture, said first fold line defining one edge of a first extended area of said first panel protruding into said aperture, said finger ledge adapted to be positioned adjacent one end of said first flap; a second side restraining flap positioned in said aperture spaced longitudinally from said first flap and connected along a second fold line parallel to said first fold line, said second fold line defining one edge of a second extended area of said first panel protruding into said aperture along the lateral side opposite said first extended area; said first and second parallel fold lines spaced apart a distance equal to the diameter of said syringe; a plastic film covering said aperture and attached to said first panel; and a second panel hingedly connected to one edge of said first panel substantially equal in size to said first panel.
 2. A protective card package holding a combined syringe having a finger ledge and filler bottle, said syringe arranged with the needle end in contact with said bottle, said package comprising: a first panel made of foldable paperboard; said first panel having an elongated die cut aperture formed therein, said aperture being formed in length substantially equal to said syringe and filler bottle; said aperture in said first panel being formed in width at its ends sufficient to allow said bottle and said finger ledge on said syringe to pass therethrough; a first side restraining flap positioned in said aperture and connected along a first fold line parallel to the lateral edges of said aperture, said first fold line defining one edge of a first extended area of said first panel protruding into said aperture, said finger ledge being positioned adjacent one end of said first flap; a second side restraining flap positioned in said aperture spaced longitudinally from said first flap and connected along a second fold line parallel to said first fold line, said second fold line defining one edge of a second extended area of said first panel protruding into said aperture along the lateral side opposite said first extended area; said restraining flaps being folded outwardly from said first panel, panel with said syringe being positioned therebetween; a plastic film covering said syringe and bottle and extending through said aperture and being attached to the back side of said first panel; and a second panel hingedly connected to one edge of said first panel and covering the back of said first panel. 